Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman may be the best in football, but he still misses the mark every once in a while. Thankfully, he's built a good enough roster for fans and analysts to ignore the rare mistake he makes.
But one of the team's signings this offseason may have a real chance to drag them down. The signing didn't make sense from the moment it happened, and now it's starting to look even worse.
Edge rusher Azeez Ojulari has failed to establish himself on the Eagles' depth chart, and it could be a sign of the defensive front taking a step back in 2025.
Azeez Ojulari solidifies himself as Eagles' weirdest offseason move
Philadelphia saw a good bit of turnover on its defensive front this offseason. Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, and Bryce Huff all found new teams. To replace them, the Eagles brought in Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari on cheap free-agent deals. These low-cost swings have worked out in the past, with Zack Baun being the most recent example. But without many other options at the position, the Eagles need at least one of their two new edge rushers to make an immediate impact.
As we move toward the start of the season, it seems like the Ojulari signing is already a mistake. He was picked by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. After an impressive rookie campaign in which he posted ten sacks, he's struggled to maintain that level of production. Over the last three seasons, he's been weak in run defense and hasn't made enough of an impact as a pass rusher to stay on the field.
The Giants let him walk after his rookie deal ran out, instead choosing to draft Abdul Carter in the first round. The fact that New York spent a first-round pick to improve upon Ojulari should show fans just how inconsistent he's been.
Still, the Eagles took a chance on the edge rusher, inking him to a one-year deal worth $3 million. After an unimpressive preseason, the signing is looking like the team's worst move of the offseason. Ojulari sits firmly behind Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt on the depth chart, and Uche has looked better than him so far. With a limited group of edge defenders, Philadelphia needs each player to make a difference. Let's hope Ojulari can turn things around before it's too late.